Does anyone still sleep on close cell foam mats?

[flyfisher]

Yeah, understand your angst. I tried mine at home before using it in the bush. I have slept on a lot of rough ground and bunks with it and it's fantastic, no closed cell foam for me.

[Strider]

I have just sent in my second Down Mat 7 on warranty. The glue failed and the ribs became unstuck across about 50% of the mat.

But was it still usable?

[hikingoz]

I have just sent in my second Down Mat 7 on warranty. The glue failed and the ribs became unstuck across about 50% of the mat.

But was it still usable?

IMG_0093.JPG (259.46 KiB) Viewed 11596 times

You can see from the photo that half the ribs are gone. I could lie on it but the air squashed out of the ribs and filled the bulge, pushing me off the mat. I could still use it semi inflated but my hips and backside were always on the ground. I also tried folding the mat in half and using the good half with some success.

The reason it failed was likely because of a prior trip which was very humid. I camped in wet scrub every night and despite always pumping the mat up with the pump I'd say the moist air got in and caused the welded seams to fail. On my next trip I pulled it out and it was buggered.

I use a bit of foam sometimes from Gossamer Gear http://gossamergear.com/sleeping/nightl ... ength.html. Some of my packs have a sleeve to use it as padding. This and a very thin full length pad are a pretty comfy, fail safe, cheapish ultralight setup.

[Strider]

Sounds like you're not aware that this was a common problem with early DM7's?

That GG foam looks like good backup for longer trips. Cheap too

[Tortoise]

That GG foam looks like good backup for longer trips. Cheap too

Indeed!

I might have missed something on the closed cell foam issue here, but i've long thought a fair depends on how you sleep - e.g on your back, side or stomach. I think I could cope if i had to by sleeping on my back, but I don't ever sleep well that way. Sleeping on my stomach does bad things to my neck. And maybe it's a female thing, but there's no way i can actually sleep on a 'karrimat' on my side. Hips on rocks, or so it feels

On the last long walk i used one (3 weeks) , i had a sort of half-on-stomach-half-on-side strategy, with one leg straight and the other one bent up, hips flat on the mat. You'd need a custom made sleeping bag if you needed to get into it instead of draping it over yourself, though
As soon as i got home, i went and bought a thermarest - as did the rest of the (female) party.

Eventually upgraded to a non-slip one, coped ok with fixing the one hole i ever got. Now using a downmat. LOVE the comfort, HATE the valves - hard to get just the right amount of air. Obviously i need to get out using it more often.

[hikingoz]

Sounds like you're not aware that this was a common problem with early DM7's?

I've had two replacements under warranty in the last 13 months. I am aware Dunno about early though.
I have spoken to someone at the manufacturer who reported a return rate of 2%. 1in 50 mats. Or in my case 2 in 100.
But they do have a five year warranty.

The store has refunded me this time to end the cycle of returns. It's not like I'm going to leave my mat behind because it's raining.

Time for a new brand...

[hikingoz]

LOVE the comfort, HATE the valves

Performing cpr on your sleeping mat after a long day can be a chore

[Strider]

i had a sort of half-on-stomach-half-on-side strategy, with one leg straight and the other one bent up, hips flat on the mat.

Sounds kinda like the recovery position

[Tortoise]

Touche

Just a bit of tweakage - lower leg straighter to allow hips flatter on mat

[enjois]

I have just sent in my second Down Mat 7 on warranty. The glue failed and the ribs became unstuck across about 50% of the mat. It was on the first night of sixteen on a winter trip. I would have happily traded for a piece of closed cell foam.

I just sent my Exped Synmat 7 in for warranty today for the exact same thing. Going to grab a ccf mat this week and try it out on the next overnighter to see how the body puts up with the padding.

[Tortoise]

LOVE the comfort, HATE the valves

Performing cpr on your sleeping mat after a long day can be a chore

I'm ok with that bit - using body weight (!) rather than muscles.

But getting the wretched valves open & closed IS a chore! The thermarest system was easy. Over-inflate a tad, close valve, lie on it, let out just the right amount of air to make it PERFECT, and close valve. No can do with my exped So I end up some nights getting sore hips because i got a bit too much air in it, and some nights my hip hits the ground if my weight isn't distributed quite right.

But when I DO get it right, I can sleep almost as well as in my own bed at home, which is way better than any previous option.

Oops - gone a bit off topic...

[Strider]

But getting the wretched valves open & closed IS a chore!

Just open the inlet valve and tap the flap lightly until its to your liking. What's difficult about that?

[Tortoise]

Hmm. The 'just open' bit is my first hurdle. Must be my wimpy grip, but sometimes it takes several goes just to get the wretched thing open! Am reluctant to use my teeth, though i suspect they would be more effective.

Next bit sounds interesting, and easier than what i've been doing - are you saying that tapping the flap of the inlet valve lets air out?

[Strider]

are you saying that tapping the flap of the inlet valve lets air out?

Correct.

[Tortoise]

are you saying that tapping the flap of the inlet valve lets air out?

Correct.

Learning a new thing every day. Thanks!

[hikingoz]

The best way to get a good nights rest is to have a hard days work. Even closed cell foam can be comfy when I'm completely zonked.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I use a bit of foam under my feet in my hammock to keep my legs warm. I couldn't imagine sleeping on it on the hard ground. OUCH!

[tas-man]

Performing cpr on your sleeping mat after a long day can be a chore

Not if you carry a bin liner plastic bag and do it this way. It makes it so easy! Here's a video that shows how it works.

I find it easier to place the hole in the plastic bag over the valve from inside the bag using a rubber band to secure the plastic bag to the valve.

[Strider]

Performing cpr on your sleeping mat after a long day can be a chore

Not if you carry a bin liner plastic bag and do it this way. It makes it so easy! Here's a video that shows how it works.

I find it easier to place the hole in the plastic bag over the valve from inside the bag using a rubber band to secure the plastic bag to the valve.

I prefer this method

[tas-man]

I prefer this method

. . . but it comes at a much higher cost than a garbage bag!

Screen shot 2012-09-08 at 6.07.20 AM.png (98.46 KiB) Viewed 11512 times

[Strider]

I prefer this method

. . . but it comes at a much higher cost than a garbage bag!

Screen shot 2012-09-08 at 6.07.20 AM.png

That is quite ridiculous actually.

[Moondog55]

And I was at the local recycle shop on Thursday with a load of green waste ( $34- for a ute load what a rip-off)and scored an extra wide long CCF pad for $2- so that is an extra for the swag or to make padding with or as extra for next winters fixed camp.

[freemandale]

Having kept two foam mats on hand 'just in case', without use, for the last umpteen years, I finally disposed of them yesterday. Being bigger and bulkier (probably but not necessarily lighter) than self inflating mats we have now, it was hard to justify the cupboard/pack space.

[Onestepmore]

CCF mat = portable concrete.

LOVE IT

My kids use them (they both do scouting, venturers)
i use one under my inflatable mat when I am car camping
Our cats use them as scratching posts when someone hasn't put it away

[Bushgirl]

Hi Onestepmore, we do but just spent 4 nights K to K and now have bruised and tender hips and coccyx, but it seems there's always the trade off between comfort and the pack getting heavier with all the comfort gear. Ours travel inside our packs. We did the K to K 27-30th September and followed blue foam "breadcrumbs" the whole way, got sick of bending down with a full pack to pick up the bits - how could they not notice?

[Beacon Hill Ben]

At our last trip, both mine and my GF's air mattress got punctured and the glue in the repair kit had dried out! So we slept on them as tarps for four nights! Cold! I am now reverting back to RidgeRest Solar, the thick ones, cut down to 2/3 length and only 343g, using our back packs for our feet. Nice and warm and light, comfy enough, beats a punctured air bed!! We also use Exped air pillows, essential for a good nights sleep. I roll up the ridgerests as a 'inner wall' for inside our ULA backpacks, the rest of the gear goes inside that.

[couscousman]

CCF = 225g / Exped = 995g
Last night I set up the tent and slept only on the CCF mat. What I really enjoyed about it was how connected you were to the curves and undulations of the landscape. My body was like a puzzle piece that I had to move around until I managed to slot it into the secret spot that nature provided. Instead of be in a comfort induced bliss on and EXPED I was in communion with the ground that for too long I have clouded out. Was it more comfortable than an ExPed; no but I did gain a new experience and way of connecting with the outdoors.

Peace

[Strider]

CCF = 225g / Exped = 995g
Last night I set up the tent and slept only on the CCF mat. What I really enjoyed about it was how connected you were to the curves and undulations of the landscape. My body was like a puzzle piece that I had to move around until I managed to slot it into the secret spot that nature provided. Instead of be in a comfort induced bliss on and EXPED I was in communion with the ground that for too long I have clouded out. Was it more comfortable than an ExPed; no but I did gain a new experience and way of connecting with the outdoors.

Peace

Not sure why anyone would make a conscious decision to sleep uncomfortably, but each to their own